Saturday, November 14, 2009

It is Pacquiao one more time! The Philippine idol Manny Pacquiao has now 7 titles in different divisions.

The fight seems so good and very thrilling even though Pacman have kneeled down Cotto in Rounds 3 and 4. Miguel Cotto has the fighting spirit and fights very well until round 12. He has suffered from great attacks of Pacquiao and dont even know were the punches are coming from.

Cotto added that Pacquiao is one of the best fighters in the world and acknowledges his power and speed. The Puerto Rican stressed up that he will continue fighting in the ring.

Congratulations Manny Pacquiao for winning it one more time. The Filipino people and your fans is proud of you! We want to see you fighting Mayweather next!

Just go back here as the fight will be covered here live, round by round. The following video will be replaced with the proper online streaming from time to time so if it stop or it shows a different video feed, just refresh the page to see suggested links or video feed of the Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight. Hope you enjoy the fight guys as I enjoy it!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

In analyzing the style of Manny Pacquiao, who better to ask than a fighter who got the chance to brawl with the pound-for-pound king inside the ring.

Former world lightweight champion David Diaz talked with the Bulletin on Tuesday from his home in Chicago and described the compelling speed advantage of Pacquiao.

“When I fought Manny I underestimated his speed. It wasn’t too much on his power. It was basically his ability to move in and out really quick,” said Diaz via overseas call. “That’s what I overlooked. It was something I’ve never seen before because it was really very hard to deal with.”

Diaz lost his World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight belt to Pacquiao via a brutal 9th round stoppage June of last year in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Apparently, Cotto doesn’t seem to mind the remarkable quickness of Pacquiao that led to riveting victories over naturally bigger fighters namely British Ricky Hatton and superstar Oscar De La Hoya.

“We know he has speed. We know he has a style and we are prepared to beat it. You’ll find out on the 14th how I am going to deal with his speed. It’s not going to be a factor even though everyone thinks it is,” Cotto once said during a conference call last week.

But Diaz insists that Pacquiao’s speed is not just all about throwing rapid punches or moving out of an attack with quick footwork.

“Manny has the ability to force his opponent to go toe-to-toe and then what he will do is to sidestep his opponent then do his damage. Dela Hoya could’ve been smarter but he himself fell into that trap as well,” added Diaz.

Diaz believes Pacquiao’s second round annihilation of Hatton last May also in Las Vegas showed the uncanny ability of the Filipino sensation to throw powerful shots while moving out of harm’s way.

“When Manny threw that right hook, Hatton tried to counter because technically Manny was supposed to be there but in reality Manny was already moving away,” said Diaz. “It’s hard to say this or that is going work against Manny Pacquiao just because of the awkwardness of his punches.”

Meantime in a separate telephone interview with the Bulletin, Cotto’s conditioning coach Phil Landman asserts they never did something special in training and be worried about Pacquiao’s speed.

“Since we arrived we knew what we have to achieve and we knew exactly the kind of work to be done and we’ve done that,” said Landman “We try to make new things to make training interesting for Miguel but for the most part we generally stick to something that has worked.”

Landman started working with Cotto when the Puerto Rican made his debut in the tough 147 lb class back in December 2006.

Cotto, 29, will stake his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt in a 12-round battle against Pacquiao at an agreed catch weight of 145 lbs this Sunday (Manila time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Both Cotto and Pacquiao will make their grand arrivals today at the MGM Grand’s Front Lobby Porte Cochere which will be opened to the public.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Miguel Cotto is convinced that he would beat Manny Pacquiao on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in Las Vegas, saying that he couldn’t care less what other people think.

“I have done the right things in my camp to make a great fight on Saturday the 14th. I have no doubt I’m going to be the winner of this fight. It is going to be a great fight for me and the fans and all the boxing world,” said the Puerto Rican champion.

Less than a week before facing the Filipino pound-for-pound king, Cotto was interviewed by boxing writers through a teleconference arranged by promoter Bob Arum.

Cotto is set to leave his camp in Tampa, Florida for Las Vegas to wrap up his training that began in Puerto Rico.

The 28-year-old welterweight champion said he doesn’t pay much attention to people who don’t believe in him.

“I have to do my best whether the people believe in me or not. I am here for me, my family and the people that want to follow Miguel Cotto,” he said.

On Freddie Roach’s prediction that he would be knocked out in the first round by Pacquiao, Cotto had a mouthful to say.

“Forget about Freddie Roach. The only thing Freddie can do is train Manny. He can’t go over the ropes and into the ring to fight against Miguel Cotto. He can only train Manny the best he can,” Cotto said.

“He may say and think Manny will knock me out but at the end of the day, it is just Manny and Miguel Cotto in the ring. No matter what kind of things Freddie Roach says before the fight?I have a very strong mind. The psyche game? I’m not going to follow that game,” he added.

Cotto said Pacquiao’s renowned speed won’t be a factor.

“You know what? That’s why we prepare ourselves. He’s a fast fighter. We know he has speed. We know he has a style and we are prepared to beat it. You’ll find out on the 14th how I am going to deal with his speed. It’s not going to be a factor even though everyone thinks it is,” he said.

Cotto said he doesn’t mind being overlooked by the international media.

“I am here to do my work. I am not an artist. I am just a boxer and I have to be focused on the things I am going to do on the 14th and that is the reason I am here,” he said.

Arum believes that the Pacquiao-Cotto fight is more evenly matched than the recent showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez.

“Most journalists did not give Marquez any chance, and rightly so, against Mayweather and in this fight the journalists are split in their views as to who is going to win,” Arum said. “This is a much more competitive fight and one of the most competitive fights of the year.”

Cotto is a 3-1 underdog against Pacquiao, but Arum said odds are merely reflection on how people are betting.

“The money that’s been coming into the sports book is Philippine money coming heavy on many Pacquiao and that has no reflection at all on how close this fight is or who is the better fighter. In other words, if some millionaires from Puerto Rico got on a plane tonight and bet big sums of money on Miguel, he would be the favorite,” Arum said.

Cotto said that all the betting for Pacquiao is not going to change the result of the fight.

“If the people bet for Manny, it is all right with me. I am here for myself and not any kind of bet,” he said.

All talks about Pacquiao fighting Mayweather don’t bother Cotto.

“It’s really not important to me what the boxing world wants to see. Once I beat Manny Pacquiao they can continue their plans and do what they want but I am not going home without winning this fight,” he said.

Friday, November 6, 2009

The video below shows the sneak peek of both Pacquiao and Cotto HBO's 24/7. These two great fighters with strong determinations to win will occupy the hearts of every aficionado watching them. This will be an exciting fight and no one can erase that feeling into them.

This said fight has many speculation because they are two different fighters. The current pound for pound being the challenger and the bigger Cotto being the defending champ.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

MANILA -- Manny Pacquiao sang his heart out in American late-night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, endearing himself further to his Filipino and even American fans with his gamely attitude.

Pacquiao, arguably today’s most popular boxer, delivered his own rendition of Dan Hill’s “Sometimes When We Touch” before a Pinoy-dominated audience who attended ABC’s late-night show.

He might not be as gifted as “YouTube” star Charice, but he was definitely given a standing ovation after the song.

Before belting out the song, the reigning pound-for-pound king shared a few laughs with host Kimmel, gamely answering the interview which lightly touched on his love for the sport, his showbiz exploits and his family life.

“Aside from boxing, I like acting,” said Pacquiao. “I'm enjoying doing it (singing).”

He also had a short explanation on his decision to name his youngest daughter after British monarch Queen Elizabeth.

“Well I like that name,” said the boxer, who then flashed his usual smile.

Pacquiao said he took a liking on the name after hearing it in the movies.

Kimmel then joked: “I think you mean Queen Latifa,” which sent the boxer laughing.

Pacquiao’s appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show is part of his efforts to promote his upcoming fight with World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto.

Kimmel commented on Pacquiao’s modesty especially on how he addresses his opponents, particularly Cotto.

“I think it's interesting that you haven't been bragging that you'd knock the guy out, you have respect for him as a fighter,” said the talk show host.

“Yeah, I respect Miguel Cotto, he's the champion and I'm the challenger. He's a good fighter also,” said the Filipino.

Cotto gives media day work out

While Pacquiao was singing in Los Angeles, his opponent gave a media day work out in Las Vegas.

Cotto looked good especially during the mitt session part of the workout.

The Puerto Rican champion is currently weighing a little over 150 pounds and is confident of winning the fight. The match is set at a 145-pound catch weight.

Cotto said Pacquiao deserves credit for his wins against Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton. He, however, warns the Filipino champ he's not going to roll over like them.

"He can say whatever he wants,” said Santiago through a translator. “It's incredible how he continues speaking but we leave that behind so we don't have that in mind.”

“My only concern is that he needs to train Manny Pacquiao because it's easy to say with words but they'll have to prove it in the ring." With reports from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News; and Joseph Pimentel, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Fred Sternburg, hired by Top Rank to lead Pacquiao’s publicity machine swears he’s never seen anything like the past few days as demand for the Filipino boxing icon continues to grow.

"Movie and TV star Jeremy Piven watched Manny train last Friday (at the Wild Card) and LA Lakers star Ron Artest was there as well," Sternburg told the Bulletin yesterday with less than two weeks before Pacquiao’s clash with Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas.

In the coming days, Pacquiao will either have to politely turn down or honor the request and invitation of men such as television host Jimmy Kimmel and Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, who has invited Pacquiao to sit with him in his private box when the ballclub plays Memphis this Friday at the Staples Center.

"Manny will be making a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live this Tuesday night (seen in the US on ABC)...(former Playboy centerfold and Baywatch babe) Pamela Anderson will also be appearing on the show," said Sternburg.

Even Time Magazine, which earlier gave prominence to the boxer for being included on the list of the world’s 100 most influential people, is set to come out with a major feature on Pacquiao "and in its Asian issue, he may apear on the cover (subject to breaking news)," said Sternburg, ading that "the cover portrait was shot Friday after his workout."

Sports Illustrated is also coming out with a piece on Pacquiao as evidenced by a photographer that dropped by the Wild Card recently.